Supporting education for girls one pad at a time

(Johannesburg, July 2018) Studies have shown that girls between the ages of 12 and 18 years living in poverty stricken urban and rural areas can lose up to a fifth of their high school education because they don’t have access to sanitary pads or they simply cannot afford them. This also results in girls missing school because they are too embarrassed to attend classes during their menstrual period.

This year Kotex® joins the Million Comforts campaign as a partner, to stand together to make a major impact in the lives of the young girls in South Africa. Young girls need to focus on their education and not have to worry about sanitary products every month or missing out on school.

The Million Comforts campaign is aimed at keeping girls in school by ensuring there are no interruptions to their education due to monthly menstruation. The campaign encourages South Africans to donate a pack of pads at their nearest Dischem outlet and put them in the Million Comforts bins located in the store. These pads will then be donated to girls in need.

“Through the Million Comforts campaign we aim at making a difference in the lives of young girls in alleviating the problem they are faced with. This is why Kotex committed to match every pack of Kotex pads donated at Dischem stores,” says Shirley Nhlengethwa, Senior Brand Manager at Kotex®.

The Million Comforts campaign is very much aligned to the Kotex® brand strategy, communicating that Period or Not She Can. As a brand, Kotex® believes that nothing should stand in the way of girls’ future.

“Kotex® believes very strongly in supporting young girls to stay in school. Over the past two years Kotex has and continues to carry out activations at schools and TVET colleges to help young girls who don’t have access to sanitary pads. Not only does Kotex® donate pads at the schools but also conducts educational talks with the girls, answering questions they might have around personal hygiene and periods”, adds Nhlengethwa.

It’s important that South Africans rally together to make sure young girls no longer miss school just because of their periods. Play your part in keeping girls in school one pad at a time by buying an extra pack of Kotex Pads when you next shop at Dischem and drop them in the Million Comforts bins.